Alabama police officer charged in sex abuse of child

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. – Authorities say a police officer from Alabama's Gulf Coast has been arrested on charges of sexually abusing a child under age 12.

WALA-TV reports Orange Beach police officer Timothy Gavin resigned Friday morning before he was arrested. Baldwin County officials said Gavin joined the police department in 2005 and had been a member of the Baldwin County Drug Task Force since March.

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Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack says Gavin is accused of abusing a child three to four years ago. The sheriff says a family member brought the case to authorities' attention three days before Gavin's arrest.

It was not immediately known if Gavin had an attorney. He was scheduled to appear at a bond hearing Monday.